Easy Does It Run 2023

Easy Does It 2023

A report on the run from John Earp and photographs from some of the participants:-

I can't believe it's July already where has this year gone? We're past the longest day and "Strictly" is on the Horizon, things are looking pretty desperate but no it the Easy Does it Run today, the weather looks good, so all is not lost!
Twenty-one bikes assembled at Marston's Club ready for the run organised by Dave Gould with Mick Leadenham as back man. I was quite early so had a quick chat with a few of the riders taking part and it was good to see Andy Roberts on his Honda CD250U that he'd just bought although he did say it had a slow puncture but he'd ordered some new tyre valves.
Just before eleven Dave called all those assembled to tell us the run was to be second man drop off and we had a coffee stop organised at Foremark Reservoir after 46 miles. Mick was last man on his Triumph and also watch out as there were a few large potholes on our run. That's nothing new to us that live in Burton!
Off we went, turn left out of Marston's and left again to Tatenhill, Barton and left again at 'The Shoulder of Mutton' over the A38 and Bailey Bridge into Walton, turn right through Catton Park and eventually turn left again to join the A513 Tamworth road. I was by now second man and had an idea we may be making a left turn to Harlaston and was proved right. I waited quite some time on the turn until the last man appeared then was once more on the move with a left turn at the White Lion pub and off towards No Man's Heath and the Four Counties Pub.
Now to Twycross passing a 'cavalcade of old tractors' travelling towards us and on to Congerstone. I was one bike behind Andy at this time so when he suddenly pulled over to the kerb I also stopped as I wondered what the problem was.
Well you remember Andy mentioned to me at the start of the run he had a slow puncture, he was wrong, it was a quick puncture and his rear tyre was now flat. Most of the other riders were behind us at this point so we all stopped to assess the situation. Andy said he'd have to ring his breakdown service but Graham produced a Finilec sealer from his pannier although it's not supposed to work with an inner tube. After first checking for any exposed nails etc. Andy fed the solution into his rear tyre and 'Hay Presto' it was fine and we were all once again ready to go. (Note for future reference, Finilec does work with an inner tube.)
With the puncture fixed we carried on through Barton in the Beans, Ibstock, straight across the Coalville roundabout towards Swannington, under the A42 towards Melbourne, took a left turn towards Ticknall and right turn to Foremark Reservoir, our coffee stop. Dave had previously organised a space for us all to park our bikes without paying a parking fee. It was a bit tight but we all managed to park and enjoyed a chat, coffee, and in my case a sausage roll.
After the break it was a short trip back to Marston's Club in Burton via Repton where many riders decided to make their own way from here so it was a much depleted number of bikes which eventually returned to Marston's Club and the end of the run.
Many thanks to Dave for organising and leading the run, Mick for riding back man, and Frank for carrying the can of puncture sealant that saved the day and it never rained again! John.

(This was listed as a short run for pre-1960 and up to 250cc 1971 machines. If this had been applied it would clearly have been a smaller entry. I might have taken part in the run but I don't have a bike on the road that fits the criteria so I missed possibly taking part in this run. We are about bikes first, make, size, etc. second. We should be encouraging people to ride their bikes while we still can. Just my view. Eddy)